Fastener for fabrics



Aug. 26, 1930. F. w. NEB'HUI FAs'i'zNun won FABRICS Filed April 25, 19252 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Frederick W. Nebhui ATTORNEY$ Aug. 26, 1930.F. w. NEBHUT 1,773,747

FASTENER FOR FABRICS Filed April 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NV EN TOR.

Ff eder'lck W. Nebhuf ATTOR h Patented Aug. 2 6, 1930 UNITED STATESPATENT; OFFICE FREDERICK W. NEBHUlT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO; M. FRANCESNEBHUT ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID FREDERICK W. NEBHUT, DECEASED rAs'rENEnnon FABRICS Application med .April 25, 1925. Serial No. 25,784.

1 throughout their entire length. A further object of the invention isthe provision of fastening means of this character WhlCl'l shall beinexpensive in construction, easy and convenient to apply to the edgesof the fabric to be secured and extremely strong and reliable in use. Tothe accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described andparticularlypointed out in the claims.

The'annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved fasteningmeans secured to adjacent edges of strips .of fabric; Fig. 2 is atransverse section of the same on the line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is 1 theadjacent edges of the strip; Fig. 10 is a a similar view on the line 3-3of Fig.4; Fig. 4 is a similar 'view on the-line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 isa plan view of one of the fastening channels showing its method ofattachment to astrip of metal; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the guide orneedle member of the fastening means; Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a plan View showing another means of securing thechannel member to the fabric; Fig. 9 is a transverse sectionillustrating the action of the fastening means when tension is appliedto pull apart view in perspective of a modified'form of the fasteningmeans; Fig. 11 is a plan view i llustrating still another modificationof fastening means; Fig.12 is a plan view showing a continuous threadingcord for operating the fastening means; and Fig. 13 is a view inperspective of a sheet metal channel member.

Various types of continuous fastening elements or means for detachablyjoining the edges of fabric in clothes, covers for various articles,overshoes and the like, have been from time to time suggested andseveral different types have been put into actual use. So far as I amaware all of these constructions require such accuracy of mounting onthe edges of the fabric and such perfect alignment of the individualfastening elements that they cause considerable trouble in use unlessoperated with great care and prevented from becoming dirty or rusty, asis of course the constant tendency where the fastenlng means are onouter garments or are subjected to the atmosphere. The purpose of thepresent invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive continuousfastening means which will not be subject to the above objections andwhich will not require closely accurate workmanship or perfect alignmentof parts to insure its continuous perfect operation.

In Fig. 1 I have shown two strips of fabric 1 and 2, the adjacent edgesof which are desired to be joined. The strips are provided with hems 3and l, respectively, to reinforce the edges. The hem 3 also serves toreceive and position a fastening or locking member 5, preferably in theform of a flexible cord or the like, provided with a guide or needle 6which'serves to thread the cord through this hem and into the channelmembers now to be described. In'the other hem 4 is disposed a flexiblemetal strip 7, to which are-secured a series of relatively short socketsor openv channel members 8, the form of which is best shown in Figs. 3,4, 5 and 9, and which are secured to the plate 7 by any suitable means,such as by a drop of solder 10 on each of the ends 9 of the sockets, asshown'in Fig.5.

The socket or open channel members 8 referred to above may be made froma single piece of wire having its intermediate portion forming one ofthe terminal attaching ends 9 and the other two ends of the wire twistedtogether as illustrated in Figure 5 and forming the other terminal endportion, or if desired, these members 8- may be made of two pieces ofwire havingtheir ends similarly twisted together. If desired the metalstrip may, under certain conditions, be eliminated, in which case thechannel members are provided with eyes 11 which are then sewed to thehem 4, as shown in Fig. 8. Similarly, a sheet metal channel 13 may beemployed if desired, such a channel being shown in Fig. 13, andconsisting of a fiat folded portion 14 provided with retaining ears 15stamped up from the body of the sheet and with oppositely arranged jawsor channels 16 and 17. The lugs 15 are pressed through the fabric andthen bent down to retain the channel in place, and of course, ifdesired, other fastening means may equally well be employed. Each of themembers 8 consist of a single piece of wire joined together at theirends, bent to provide aligned spaced sockets 50 having at one side ofeach end integral attaching means51 and at the other side of said endsrestricted openings 52. Extending between each of such socket portionsand at the points of the restricted openings are connecting pieces 53the latter providing with openings 52 an elongated restricted opening54.

The guide or needle 6 consists of a circular portion which is hollow.and within which its clamped the end of the cord or other flexiblemember 5. while there extends laterally from this cylindrical portion 70a flat guiding vane 18 which is provided with a sharpened end portion19, and to which is secured an operating cord 20. This guide is disposedwithin the hem 3 and the width of the vane at its wide portionsubstantially fills the width of the hem so that as the guide is drawnthrough the hem 3 the cylindrical portion 70 is pressed against theouter edge of the hem and the cord 5 is drawn along at this portion ofthe hem. A pull on the cord 20 tends to rotate the guide slightly in acounter clockwise direction (looking at Figs. 1 and 6), and thus tendsto throw the sharpened end 19 against the outer extremity of the hem andinto and between the channel members as willv now be explained.

The various socket members are first secured tothe hem 4 in equidistantrelation and at corresponding points on the hem so that these sockets orchannels normally lie in the same plane and the openings in the channelmembers are in alignment. The fastening member, that is, the cord 5,with its head or guide, is' now inserted in the other hem 3 and the hemsare brought together and the fastening cord is started through the firstof the channels 8 and when so positio:.ed the hem 3 is closed' at thatend of the strip in order to prevent accidental removal of the guide.The operating cord 20 is also disposed within the hem 3 and extends fromthe other end of this hem. By pulling on this cord the guide 6' and cord5 are drawn suc-. cessively through the adjacent channels 8', the end 19of the guide being moved into successive channels and thus acting tothread the cord 5 within these various elements. This action of theguide also initially brings the fiat hem between the channels 8 and thishem is then-distended and pressed into engagement with the channels bythe circular fastening cord 5 as it is drawn therethrough by the guide.

The locking action is secured by the fact that the fastening element 5is of sufiicient diameter so that it will not pass through the opening22 in the channels 8. The harder the two edges are drawn away from eachother thetighter will the fastening element 5 press the hem against thesides of the channels 8, and as these channels extend from end to end ofthe two fabrics the combined strength of the joint which is secured inthis way is very considerable. and it is practically impossible underordinary conditions to spring the channels 8 sufficiently apart topermit of the lateral withdrawal of the other hem and the fasteningelement from between them. Even if under some extraordinary tension oneor more of the channels are opened the fastening element and hem 3 canbe replaced within these channels and the channels can then be closed byspringing the metal down into its original position either by hand or bysuitable tools if found necessary.

In order to open the joint between the fabrics it is only necessary toreverse the operation and to pull the fastenin member 5, which. at itsupper end is provided with a ring 23 to retract the guide and thefastening" element through whatever portion of the seam it is desired toopen.

If desired the seams may be sewed or otherwise secured together at theupper end, such as the point 24 (see Fig. 1), or the two strips may beentirely disconnected and may be provided with suitable fastening meansin the form of a hook 25 and eyelet 26 (see Fig. 11), which, "whensecured together will bring the hems into such relation that with alittle care the guide may be started through the first of the channels8, after which it will guide itself through the other channels and willact asalready described to secure the pulled down and the fasteningmeans are operated. The cord, instead of hanging loosely from the end ofthe hem 3 is returned within this hem and is passed around a rivet 31and-is thenagain secured to' the fastening element at the point 32. Thisconstruction affords a more sightly operating means, but it is necessaryin operatmg it to sometimes pull directly on the cord 29 instead of onthe ring 30, while to unfasten the same the fastening member 27 ispulled upward as in the previous construction.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a modification of the fastening means in whichthe channels or socket members 35 are formed as a part of a single stripofmetal which is secured to the edge 36 of a strip of fabric. The otherstrip 37 is provided with a hem 38-, within which is disposed a lockingstrip or flexible element 39 which, when drawn through the hem, threadsits way into the successive sockets of the strip 35 and is'of such asize that it snubs the hem against the edges of the socket 35 in themanner previously described.

This snubbing action is illustrated in Fig. 9, in which the two hems areshown when placed under a tension, which tends to pull them apart. Thehem 3 is pulled toward the opening in the channel 8, but is preventedfrom removal by the diameter of the fastening element 5, which, however,has sprung or distorted the sides of the channel from the dottedposition to the full line position shown in this figure.

The advantages of the present construction are its simplicity andeconomy, and the flexibility which is given to the same by reason of thelarge number of individual and relatively short channels or sockets.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of thefollowingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and dis tinctly claim as myinvention 1. Fastening means for fabrics comprising two strips of fabrichaving adjacently dis posed edges and one of said strips having a hemformed along its edge, a series of separate resilient channel memberssecured in alignment along the edge of'said other strip, each of saidmembers having an opening on the side adjacent said other strip, and aflexible fastening element disposed in said hem, said element having aguide secured to one end thereof, said guide filling said hem and havinga flattened portion adapted upon longitudinal movement thereof throughsaid guide being movable longitudinally within said hem.

3. Fastening means for two strips of fabric having adjacently disposededges and one of said strips having a hem formed along its edge,comprising a flexible fastening element adapted to move longitudinallywithin 'said hem, a metallic guide secured to one end of said element,and means provided on the edge of the other of said strips adapted toco-operatively engage with-said fastening element to detachably securesaid fabric strips together.

4. Fastening means for two strips of fabric having adjacently disposededges and one of said strips having a hem formed along its edge,comprising a flexible fastening element adapted to move longitudinallywithin said hem, a metallic guide secured to one end of said element,means provided on the edge of the other of said strips adapted toco-operatively engage with said fastening element to detachably securesaid fabric strips together, and means for moving said fastening elementwithin said hem.

5. Fastening means for two strips of fabric having adjacently disposededges and one of said strips having a hem formed along its edge,comprising a flexible fastening element adapted to move longitudinallywithin said hem, a metallic guide secured to one end of said elements.means provided on the edge of the other of said strips adapted toco-operatively engage with said fastening element to detachably receivesaid fabric strips together, and means attached to said guide for movingsaid fastening element into engagement with said first-named means.

6. Fastening means for two strips of fabric having adjacently disposededges and one of said strips having a hem formed along its edge,comprising a flexible fastening element "adapted to move longitudinallywithin said hem, a metallic guide secured to one end of said elements,means provided on the edge of the other of said strips adapted toco-operatively engage with said fastening element to detachably receivesaid fabric strips together, means attached to said guide for movingsaid fastening element into engagement with said first-named means, andmeans attached to the other end of said element for moving the same fromfastening position.

Signed 1) me this 18th dav of April. 1925.

FREDERICK W. NEBHUT.

hem to enter the lateral openings in said chan- 4 nels and to draw saidflexible member endwise into said channels, said flexible member lockingsaid hem within said channelsand being formed to prevent lateraldisplacement through the opening therein.

2. A fastening means for fabric having a hem along its edge, comprisinga flexible fastening member and a metallic guide secured to one endthereof, said fastening member and

